Chapter 37: The Deal
"Haven shall be reclaimed, Sister, and once the battle is done, both the village and the temple…shall be mine."
Sister Daelle blinked; no one could see it of course, since her blind eyes were once again covered with a silken scarf, but…
It took all of her self-control, and her training by the Nightingale, not to show any disbelief, any sense of outrage.
The nerve of this man, she thought, the gall!
She stood behind Leliana, her mentor had arrived in Redcliffe several days before Dee and the rest of her party had. Both the sister and Charter had sent off birds to chantry, asking the Nightingale's advice on how they should deal with the knowledge of a group of apostates seizing the holy temple and the village beneath it. It was likely that Leliana had never seen those messages because both were sent to contacts in Orlais, and to the surprise of both Dee and Charter, the Nightingale was not even in Orlais. It appears that she had been in Ferelden for some time, and neither woman had known it
Such was the ways of their leader, though Dee was still not pleased to know that her mentor had been so close yet chose to remain so silent.
She had faced much in the past few months. She could have used her teacher's guidance. To know that Leliana had been so close, that she had kept her silence while her student suffered.
It was not what she expected of the woman who had saved her.
It was not the way of the woman who had first put her on this path.
IOI
Dee had arrived in Redcliffe with the beginnings of a plan taking shape in her mind. She hoped to receive an answer to the letter she had sent off to Forest's End, and in the meantime, intended to use Charter and her contacts to rally more loyal people to their cause. It would not be difficult, she thought, though she loathed doing it, she suspected that there were many among the faithful that would not stand idle when they learned that the temple of Sacred Ashes was being threatened by Apostates. It is not what Justinia wanted. The Most Holy desired to restore peace, to build bridges between the wayward mages, Templars, and the chantry that had once sheltered both. No she stood poised to make the mages look like the enemies of Thedas, again.
The thought did not please it.
It is a very Templar thing to do, she realized, but in face of having no army to call on, she believed that she had few options. Once Haven was free, and the apostates were driven out, she could go back to trying to build the bridges that the Divine desired.
She intended to use the Redcliffe Chantry as a base while she prepared her plans. The others could see to their business while she disappeared among the sisters living here. She had grown far too well known in the last few weeks and now wished to regain some of her anonymity.
Charter and Rafe both had contacts that could prove useful in finding the supplies they needed. It was through them that their prisoner, Ser Giles, was stored away for safe keeping, just in case they needed more information from him. Andrea, with her links to the mage collective might be able to give them an idea of exactly what was waiting for them in Haven. If and when Gray Eyes arrived they would have the means of making their way through the wilderness, hopefully undetected.
It was not much of a plan she realized, but it was starting to take shape.
As it turns out, she need not have bothered.
The group was met at the village gates by the Arl's men. The soldiers who stopped then addressed bot her and Charter by name, and asked them to come with them. Not wishing to cause any trouble with the rule of Redcliffe, the group had submitted without resistance. They arrived to find both Arl Teagan and Sister Leliana waiting for them. As a favor to Leliana, and old friend from the days of the Blight, the Arl offered them his protection and hospitality while they planned their next move.
Dee had been surprised to see her mentor here, though perhaps she should not have. Charter had been saying for weeks how Leliana had greatly expanded her network of agents and informers. It was no surprise that the Nightingale had gotten here a few steps ahead of them.
When Martel and a delegation of his Templars showed up under a banner of truce, Leliana agreed to hear the man out. After all, the Divine still desired to restore the peace between the chantry and the Templars, perhaps this was the first logical step.
Arl Teagan offered the two the use of his solar, and so the Knight-Commander and the Left Hand of the Divine met to discuss this matter, a matter that Dee felt the Martel and his men had no stake in, and should have no stake.
The Divine may have hoped to open negotiations with the Templars, but in Dee's mind, this was clearly not the way to do it.
As she listened to the man speak, she realized that that was not going to happen, he was not interested in returning to the chantry. Martel had his own ambitions, ambitions that he would not let go of so quickly.
As Dee listened a bad feeling formed in her gut.
This would not go well, she thought.
No, it would not go well at all.
IOI
"That is…an ambitious request, Knight-Commander," Leliana said to their Templar guest. "Haven is most valued to the faithful; pilgrims have been seeking it out for almost ten years."
"All the more reason to trust the Templars to protect it," Martel responded, his voice thick with the Templar pride that Dee had heard in many that she and Reaper had faced in the past few years. She knew what that pride could hide, the ambition; the unchecked lust for power.
If Dee had learned anything in her travels is it that when a Templar wants something, it usually has nothing to do with the faith.
"The chantry is without a military force," The Knight-Commander continued, "It is no surprise that the apostates that now ravage this land would take advantage of that weakness."
The man laughed lightly.
"I'm willing to place my own battle plans aside, for now. Grant me the title of Lord Protector of Haven, and my men and I will hold it in stewardship until this chaos has passed, and the mage rebellion at last been brought to heel."
"And what of the hostages," Leliana inquired, "The priests, and scholars that were in Haven when the mages attacked. What happens to them when you aid us in….reclaiming Haven."
"They will be allowed to continue as they have," Martel promised, "They will be allowed to continue their work under my stewardship and protection. I see no reason to deny them their search for knowledge."
Dee frowned.
Or your need for hostages, she thought to herself, those poor people would exchange one captor for another.
She did not see the difference. Martel and his men were little different than the apostates who took Haven. Neither side was taking orders from their superiors. She doubted that Martel had consulted Lord Seeker Lucius before making this offer, just as she doubted that the mages who had taken Haven had consulted Grand Enchanter Fiona.
Martel was ambitious, make no mistake about that, and was far more tenacious then she would have given him credit for. The loss of his holdings in the north should have ended his adventures in Ferelden, yet here he was again, still seeking to win a major victory, and put his name on the face of history.
Taking the Temple of Sacred Ashes, securing it for the Templar order would do that.
Letting the man have Haven…she did not like the idea at all; of course, it was not her decision in the end.
That decision belonged to the Divine, and for the moment was in the hands of the Nightingale.
"Your offer is…enticing Knight-Commander," the Left Hand of the Divine said, "Though I must admit, I find your choice to come before us surprising. Clearly you have the manpower to attack Haven on your own, what do you need the chantry for?"
"Taking is not the same as holding," Martel replied, "Haven is still a place of many secrets. It remained hidden from the world for centuries, and likely would have remained so had it not been for the Warden's…companions."
Dee titled her head slightly, the way the man said "companions" was likely a dig at Leliana, despite their success; most Templars did not look fondly on the Heroes of the Fifth Blight. Assassins, apostates, and Qunari heretics had stood against the darkness, and now, after almost ten years of peace, the pious were now starting to blame those that fought for the ills that rose after the Archdemon fell. The Templars chief among them, considering the high place that certain mages had accented by their role in helping to stop the darkspawn.
If her mentor to offense, she chose not to show it, at least not with her words.
"You believe that the chantry can give you an edge when you approach the village," she said.
"I have heard tales of tunnels running through the mountains of Haven, tunnels dug by the dragon cultists, tunnels that hid their numbers from the rest of the world. If the chantry has maps of those tunnels, they could be invaluable."
Again the Knight-Commander laughed.
"Together, our strength and your knowledge…we may just be able to prevent any further damage to our prophet's holy resting place."
"I see," Leliana said coolly. Once again, Dee wished that she had at least one good eye. Her mentor had always said that body language could be informative as a person's voice…
…One of several limitations of her blindness, limitations that she still tried to overcome.
"Do you guarantee the safety of those currently being held in Haven?" Leliana asked.
"Alas, I cannot make such a guarantee," Martel answered, "In war…bad things happen. The villagers and priests that lived in Haven may already be dead. If they are…then the only thing we will be able to do is mourn them, and promise that such an outrage will never happen again, not with Templar power protecting the temple and its holdings."
The man paused; Dee imagined a confident smile on his face, a mask meant to reassure her mentor.
"Believe me, Sister Leliana; I would do nothing to jeopardize Haven or the temple. It is far too valuable."
Dee waited for the Nightingale to reject the arrogant Templar's offer. They would find another way to save Haven. They did not need him and his rogue knights. They…"
"I will need to send word to the Divine," her mentor said, "That we still have our people coming, people bringing information and supplies that will make such an operation a success."
Martel laughed again, but this time, there was an edge to it, something cold and sly.
"I knew the Chantry would see reason, and through this mission. I'm sure that the Most Holy will see the value of an independent Templar order. How it benefits the faith to have us following our own path, not simply the well tread road of the past."
"We shall see Knight-Commander," the Nightingale promised.
"We shall see."
IOI
Several hours later Leliana guided Dee back to her room, both women were clad in leather armor, both sporting new bruises from one of their training sessions.
Dee limped slightly from a bruise on her upper thigh, but this time, her mentor had gotten the worst of the exchange, Dee caught her three times for every one blow that her teacher landed. She would have been proud normally, proud that she had advanced enough to land so many hits, but not now.
Now she felt only anger at her mentor, anger at how she had cowed down to Martel and his minions.
"You are angry with me," Leliana asked her.
Of course not, teacher," Dee lied, keeping her voice as level as possible.
"You are," the Nightingale repeated, "And you have a right to be."
Her words both surprised and shocked her student. Dee had expected anger on Leliana's part, anger that her student might question her decisions, and the decisions of the chantry.
They walked in silence then, at least until they were back in Dee's room, the door was locked, and one of her mentor's agents was making sure that no one was close enough to listen in.
It was only then that Leliana spoke candidly with her.
It was only then that she was willing to both listen and speak openly with her.
"I wish to know why you worry so about this arrangement," her mentor asked, "What do you fear will come to pass by us accepting the Knight-Commander's help."
"You wish me to speak freely?" Dee asked her.
"I would not have asked the question if I suspected that you would not."
The blind sister sighed heavily.
Where could she begin?
"Very well," Dee sighed, "I believe that Knight Commander Martel cannot be trusted, he is a liar, and is overly ambitious."
"That is your opinion," Leliana responded, "What do you think his ambitions will lead him to do."
"When he first came to Ferelden, he tried to establish a foothold in the north, he seized both Amaranthine and Highever, but he overreached and lost both. Now he is looking to win an even greater prize. Haven would be that prize."
"Why would Haven be more valuable than two port cities?" her teacher asked.
Dee blinked; surely her teacher had her own opinions on this?
The only reason she would ask her student was to test her? Whether that test was of her loyalty or intelligence Dee couldn't say.
She could only try and pass that test.
"Haven would be a major victory for Martel. He could claim that it was the Maker's will that he reclaimed it, and once he did, could also claim that his success is proof of the righteousness of his cause. Many Templars would likely agree with him. Any men he has lost to desertions since his defeat in the north would return, and he would likely gain even more recruits among the faithful and pilgrims, people eager to punish the mages for daring to threaten Andraste's Holy resting place."
Dee shook her head.
He might even use this as evidence that it is he, and not Lord Seeker Lucius that should be leading the Templar cause. He may even have the strength to seize the position left vacant since the death of Lord Seeker Lambert."
"That is one possibility," Leliana agree, "What of the villagers and priests; do you believe that he will save them?"
"The useful ones," Dee answered, "He may keep them alive as hostages, but if they were to all die during the attack, he could claim that the mages executed them rather than see them freed. More fuel to the anti-mage fire that the Templars have been fanning since the rebellion began. As martyrs to his cause, those hostages would be more valuable dead than alive."
"A chilling thought," Leliana admitted, and there is another one that you have not considered, Student."
"Mentor?"
The Nightingale sighed.
"When we, my companions and I, entered the temple a decade ago, our friend Oghren mentioned that he sensed lyrium within the temple, perhaps the strongest he had ever sensed. Given the chance, Martel may decide that that lyrium is far more valuable than the temple itself."
Dee's blind eyes widened.
"Surely not, the Temple is a sacred site. Could even a man like Martel just…?"
"What do your instincts say?" her teacher asked.
Dee fell silent, when she answered; her words were cold and angry.
"I fear the man would go to any length to achieve his ends."
"Sadly I agree," she said.
"I wish you didn't," Dee said sheepishly.
"As do I," the Nightingale admitted.
She heard her teacher step away, the soft sound of her feet as she paced the floor of the small guest room.
"What are we going to do?" Dee asked her.
"We need to find a way to turn this to our advantage," she said, "Perhaps we can turn Martel's schemes. Make them work for us."
There was a knock at the door. Leliana went to answer it. Dee' brow furrowed in thought.
Martel was a dangerous man, she knew that, and he likely would not have risen as high as he had without being careful to the point of paranoia.
It would not be easy to turn his schemes back on him.
"We have had word from Haven," Leliana called out.
Dee blinked.
"Word?" she said, "How?"
"Several of the townsfolk escaped into the wilderness, a few loyal agents and knights among them. They have done their best to isolate the mages from any aid. They have blocked the paths leading into the mountains, and brought down any bird that tries to fly from the chantry. The mages are trying to summon allies from the Grand Enchanter, but so far, none have gotten through."
"That is good news, at least." Dee admitted.
"It is," Leliana agreed, "And it gives me an idea. We can use this when we go to reclaim the village."
Again Leliana paused, Dee felt a shiver run down her spine, though she was not sure why.
"There has been another letter Dee, from Redcliffe village, from the chantry there."
"What kind of message?"
"A message from Reaper," her teacher said, it was left a day or so before we arrived."
"He passed this way," Dee said feeling hopeful, yet fearing her teacher's grim tone.
"The note mentions that he was on his way to Haven, if he reached the village."
Dee frowned.
Leliana did not have to say more.
She read the letter to her student; Dee recognized all the safe words. Clearly the letter had not been written under duress.
Yet, one part of the message was disturbing.
"He was accompanying a mage, a mage seeking asylum?"
"So the letter claims," Leliana said.
"Is it possible that this mage led him into a trap?"
"Perhaps, but we will not know until we take Haven back."
"All the more reason we must do this without Martel," Dee said coldly, "We know that Martel put a price on Reaper's head, if he finds him captured in Haven…"
"If Reaper is still alive," Leliana reminded her.
Dee frowned. It was all she could do to keep from snarling at her teacher.
Reaper could not be dead.
He couldn't be!
The Maker was not that cruel.
Yet she let no sign of her emotions show. She was far too well trained for that. When she spoke again, her voice was as cold and even as any tranquil.
I will do what is necessary teacher. Whatever it takes, I will do it."
She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, its grip warm and comforting.
"I know you fear for Reaper, Daelle; we will save him if we can."
"But this is about more than just Reaper, isn't it?"
"That it is," Leliana said with pride in her voice, "You have grown so much in the less few months, Dee. I'm impressed with you, what you have done, what you have endured. You are not the same girl that I sent with Reaper those few short years ago."
"I've seen much and more in the Maker's service," she agreed, "He will watch over Reaper. I know it."
"We must have faith," Leliana agreed, "Now we must decide how to deal with these rogue Templars and mages, how to turn their fight to our advantage."
Dee nodded.
The Maker would watch over Reaper. She would pray that he granted the paladin his mercy.
For Martel, his followers, and the mages that had seized Haven, she would grant them none.
They had flaunted the chantry's authority for too long.
Now…they would pay for it.